WindyCityOperaman

Dan Soda (Windy City Operaman) is a Chicago native whose first visit to opera was at age 17 and Massenet’s Werther with Troyanos and Kraus. Nothing was ever the same. Opera and concert performances, recordings and video are an obsession. He prepares Parterre Box’s daily birthday and anniversary tributes. He also enjoys concerts, live theater and movies.

Born too soon Born too soon

On this day in 1904, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its “disastrous” premiere at La Scala.

on February 17, 2019 at 9:56 AM
Di grazia Di grazia

On this day in 1966 the Metropolitan Opera debut of tenor Alfredo Kraus as the Duke of Mantua.

on February 16, 2019 at 9:04 AM
“I was lonely when I was young” “I was lonely when I was young”

On this day in 1938, Lillian Hellman’s play The Little Foxes opened at the National Theatre to run 410 performances.

on February 15, 2019 at 9:57 AM
“One starts to get young at the age of sixty and then it is too late” “One starts to get young at the age of sixty and then it is too late”

Happy 60th birthday to soprano, actress, media personality, creative consultant and parterre box muse Renée Fleming.

on February 14, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Heart of gold Heart of gold

Happy 50th birthday mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.

on February 13, 2019 at 10:13 AM
Endless love Endless love

Happy 95th birthday director and designer Franco Zeffirelli.

on February 12, 2019 at 11:01 AM
Nella bruna la costanza Nella bruna la costanza

On this day in 1966 soprano Pilar Lorengar made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Donna Elvira.

on February 11, 2019 at 8:00 AM
“Who I am is the best I can be” “Who I am is the best I can be”

A joyous 92nd birthday to Miss Mary Violet Leontyne Price.

on February 10, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Love in the afternoon Love in the afternoon

On this day in 1974 soprano Kiri Te Kanawa made an “emergency” Met debut as Desdemona.

on February 09, 2019 at 10:05 AM
Maid in Manhattan Maid in Manhattan

On this day in 1996 mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli made her Metropolitan Opera stage debut as Despina.

on February 08, 2019 at 10:33 AM
Moore is less Moore is less

On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.

on February 07, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Fantasia Fantasia

On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.

on February 06, 2019 at 10:27 AM
Lady be good Lady be good

On this day in 1959 soprano Leonie Rysanek made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lady Macbeth.

on February 05, 2019 at 9:18 AM
Alfredo sauce Alfredo sauce

On this day in 2006 tenor Jonas Kaufmann made his Metropolitan Opera debut in La traviata.

on February 04, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Ladies there is no neutral position for us to assume Ladies there is no neutral position for us to assume

Born on this day in 1887 poet and librettist Gertrude Stein.

on February 03, 2019 at 8:57 AM

Happy 82nd birthday soprano Martina Arroyo.

on February 02, 2019 at 8:56 AM
That French girl That French girl

On this day in 1893, the premiere of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut in Turin.

on February 01, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Stop and stair Stop and stair

On this day in 1974 Verdi’s I Vespri Siciliani had its first Metropolitan Opera house performance.

on January 31, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Letter to an unknown woman Letter to an unknown woman

On this day in 1957 soprano Martha Mödl made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Brünnhilde in Siegfried.

on January 30, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Sea no evil Sea no evil

On this day in 1781: the premiere of Mozart’s Idomeneo in Munich.

on January 29, 2019 at 8:00 AM
“We only do well the things we like doing” “We only do well the things we like doing”

Born on this day in 1873 writer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette.

on January 28, 2019 at 8:00 AM
You stand straight at Tiffany’s You stand straight at Tiffany’s

On this day in 1974, Carol Channing opened in the musical Lorelei at the Palace Theatre. The show ran 320 performances.

on January 27, 2019 at 8:00 AM
End of the beginning End of the beginning

On this day, premiere performance anniversaries!

on January 26, 2019 at 8:00 AM
“Louder, louder!” “Louder, louder!”

Triple operatic premiere day!

on January 25, 2019 at 8:00 AM